Thank you Leisa:) That is how we also felt!!

Been doing some research about using coconut oil on dry skin.  Bought some Spectrum organic coconut oil today at Wal-mart down the cooking oils aisle for $6.98 it's the consistency of crisco & melts on the skin.  Here is a helpful youtube video I found about it's uses;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cQDAZQIDH4

Wanted to add a significant point.   When you take the journeys of others seriously, help with the accrued wisdom you have..... And you get weighed down with the wasted effort you've repeatedly expended (and the endless repetitive post - THOUSANDS OVER 10 YEARS), then a bit of comic relief is most definitely needed to recharge your batteries.  

I really am enjoying the fun threads created for that purpose.    Hilarity, being silly, outrageous, releases a lot of endorphins, feel-good hormones.   I always have a lot less muscular tension & mental stress from my own life that is alleviated after a great belly laugh. 

When I opened & moderated my first online support group, I formed a casual social/silly nonsense group as a place to make friends - at some of the members request.  It was for victims of committed relationship emotional & mental abuse (sometimes physical).  Many were socially isolated and really needed that bit of community in the extra safety of that private protected safe group. 

But again, it was where I was annointed as momma bear.      It shrunk the distance between us. 

    The warmth - and playfulness of off-topic groups..... 

I agree, Katie.   I haven't seen it here in that sense - but then I spend little time here after those early marathon days when my aim was learning. And learning. And bookmarking the best! 

Over the past day, I could have sworn I saw a couple of meat-puppets.   I can't be certain, of course, but, like it does for Judge Judy, it raised the hairs on the back of my neck. 

I would hope that mostly it's done in the way I've nearly always seem in other support groups - as a lighthearted way to have fun while entertaining others. 

With this board, Off Topic, I've enjoyed the playfulness displayed here - and I wouldn't mind a bit for someone to assume a silly irreverent user name & be a clown for us. 

Now, you can't see it now, but the surest way to reach goal & maintain is to be here as close to daily as possible.   You go from being a student, search for answers, to practicing what you've learned, to then (after several years of successful maintenance) being able to best help with the accumulated wisdom accrued over the years of walking the walk & watching those who also walk the walk - as well as learning to recognize (from the sheer number you see over tine) the really serious signs of the beginning of serious signs of impending failure.  

And how do they know the signs?   Because of the years of seeking to help others.   That's when tough love has a strong needed role... A loud snapping of the fingers - sometimes even the clash of cymbals,  

Where I see things get rough is when 12 people show up to point out the dangers of where they are headed.   Me?   Heck, I'm a wuss - I'd duck & run.    

But that's me. 

Teri 

Um, excuse me? You have lost an amazing amount in pretty short order!

Are you the person I talked with about Dr. Aranow and me going to one of his support groups? I'm in Farmington.